Laravel Dusk: End-to-End Testing for Web Applications

Laravel Dusk is a powerful tool for performing end-to-end testing on web applications. It allows you to simulate user interactions and test the functionality and behavior of your application in a real browser environment. In this guide, we will explore how to use Laravel Dusk for effective testing.

Installation

Start by installing Laravel Dusk as a development dependency:

composer require --dev laravel/dusk

After installation, run the Dusk installer:

php artisan dusk:install

Writing Browser Tests

Browser tests in Laravel Dusk are written using a fluent, chainable syntax. You can create test classes using the

php artisan dusk:make

tests/Browser

BrowserTestCase

php artisan dusk:make ExampleTest

Within a test class, you can use methods like

visit

type

click

assert

public function testBasicExample()
{
    $this->browse(function ($browser) {
        $browser->visit('/')
                ->assertSee('Laravel');
    });
}

Running Tests

You can run your Dusk tests using the

php artisan dusk

php artisan dusk

Database Transactions

Laravel Dusk wraps each test in a database transaction, which is rolled back after the test completes. This ensures that your tests do not affect your application's database state.

Environment Configuration

Configure the environment for Dusk tests in the

.env.dusk.local

Additional Features

Laravel Dusk offers additional features like taking screenshots, interacting with forms, working with iframes, and handling JavaScript dialogs. These features enable comprehensive testing of your web application's functionality.

Conclusion

Laravel Dusk simplifies end-to-end testing for your web applications. By writing browser tests with Dusk, you can ensure that your application works as expected, catching regressions and bugs early in the development process.